Broncos coach Josh McDaniels has made no June pronouncement about who will be his starting quarterback for the upcoming season. But the incumbent for the job, Kyle Orton, says he feels better about his game than at any point in his career.
“I’m real happy with the way I’m playing. I have more confidence right now than I ever have,” Orton said after Friday’s minicamp practice at Dove Valley. “(I’ve) just got to keep on going.”
Asked to expound on that, Orton said: “The way the entire offense has been playing gives me a lot of confidence. There are a lot of chances to make plays. and they’re doing it on a consistent basis. And when the results are there, you just get a lot of confidence out of that.”
While McDaniels has not declared Orton the starter, he continues to say the veteran’s experience in the offense has given him the advantage over Brady Quinn and rookie Tim Tebow.
“(Orton has had) a hundred-some practices and multiple games in this offense, and certainly that shows,” McDaniels said. “The other two are learning every day, trying to get better.”
Rookie gets look.
Rookie Zane Beadles, who has worked plenty at tackle in the Broncos’ offseason workouts, was at starting left guard Friday.
Seth Olsen, a fourth- round pick in the 2009 draft, had been working there previously as Russ Hochstein recovers from knee surgery.
Many personnel executives believe guard is the more natural position in the NFL for Beadles, who started one year at left guard and three years at left tackle while at Utah.
“He’s shown the ability to handle and process the different information on both sides, one time inside, one time outside,” McDaniels said. “At some point we’ll make a determination of where he has to stay in training camp.”
Footnotes.
Rookie wide receiver Demaryius Thomas spent some time working with former Broncos wideout Rod Smith after practice. . . . McDaniels said tight end Marquez Branson, who has not practiced in more than a week, is rehabbing from an undisclosed injury.
